Rona D Drinkard’s “Friendship Matters” has multiple awards including the BREW Readers’ Choice Award for February 2022 and Women’s Fiction 2021/2022.
Review
Friendship Matters by Rona Drinkard features three inseparable friends- Saisha, Euniqé, and Kandace. The trio could not be any more different from each other. Saisha, a realtor by profession, seeks a stable companion despite pining for her ex. Euniqé is a widowed psychotherapist raising her son all by herself. Kandace, a stay-at-home mother of two, has no clue that her husband’s adultery has already made her life a nightmare. This gorgeous women’s fiction will provide glimpses into these three friends’ life. Will Saisha find her dream man? Can Euniqé come out of her grief? Will Kandace finally confront the reality?
Rona made three unforgettable central characters who would enamor the readers with their personalities. I loved how she gave each friend a unique voice. She detailed their personal preferences in music, dressing habit, and even hobbies. Rona sure knew how to make the readers thoroughly involved in the characters’ lives. There were countless times I desperately wanted Saisha to forgo a wrong choice or Euniqé to give herself another chance in love. While reading this book, you could not help rooting for the characters.
The novel talked about family bonding while providing ample glimpses into the trio’s backstories. I admired the loving ties they shared with their families and each other. I loved how they were deeply involved in each other’s lives, caring for the others’ children even. The story proved that being family does not necessarily require a blood relation. The trio’s chemistry was fantastic; it was the strength of their friendship that held them together and helped them deal with life’s curveballs. Despite their occasional competitive streaks and insane banters, each provided a valuable support system for the other two.
The assertiveness of the central characters amazed me. Rona sketched each of them with distinct traits. Saisha boasted a sassy and forward character, while Euniqé was more rational and conservative. Although I did not expect it from Kandace, she turned out to be a strong-willed girl as well. Yet, the beauty was that Rona featured their vulnerable sides with equal vividity. Even the formidable Saisha felt insecure about not getting a suitable partner. Euniqé hesitated to start a new relationship lest her son could not cope with it. Kandace had long overlooked the follies of her philandering husband. The novel thus captured them at a crucial moment in their lives.
I did not have much to complain about. All the stories of meeting new men and dating started to sound a little similar and repetitive towards the end. Still, this is one of the best books I have read featuring women’s solidarity. I would heartily recommend this book to anyone who appreciates romance stories and women’s fiction. Rona sends us a powerful message through her novel. That is, conquering the world is easy if you have such strong friendships in your arsenal.
SC, 11 February 2022
Book Details
- Title: Friendship Matters
- Author: Rona D Drinkard
- Genre: Fiction
- Theme: Women’s
- Publication date: 5 February 2022
- ISBN or ASIN: B09PTCCS4S
- Number of words: 100,308
- Minimum audience age: 18
Book Themes
(Note: 0=none, 1=a few, 2=considerable, 3=pronounced, 4=excessive)
- Sexual themes: 3
- Religious themes: 2
- Violence, self-harm, etc.: 1
- Crude language, expletives, swearing, etc.: 1
- Other adult themes: 2
Rating
- Content: 5 stars
- Writing Style: 5 stars
- Appeal to Target Audience: 5 stars
- Uniqueness: 5 stars
- Editing: 4 stars
- Other factors: 5 stars
- Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
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Know more about the book via https://thechrysalisbrewproject.com/2022/01/11/featured-book-friendship-matters-by-rona-d-drinkard/.
View “Friendship Matters” on Amazon.com.
View “Friendship Matters on Amazon.com.au.
It catches my attention that you mention their occasional competitiveness because I think that’s more realistic than an “ideal” friendship. Three women that are so different will, of course, have some issues, but what matters, in the end, is that they stand by each other. I wish we had more books like this that proved that women can support and empower each other, instead of so much media portraying petty rivalries. Thank you for your enthusiastic review!
Thank you so much. I totally agree, Shrabastee’s review truly captures the essence of how relatable the characters are to anyone who reads Friendship Matters. I am humbled!